Electric switch



June 23, 1942.

R. N, owe:

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l .June 23, 1942. R. N. ROWE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 1, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR JEQZyZYZOIZdRQH/"Q Patented June 23, 1942 ELECTRIC SWITCH Raymond N. Rowe, Plainvilie. Coma, auignor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Coma, a corporation of Connecticut Application March 1, 1941, Serial No. 381,223 10 (laims. (01. 204F114) My invention relates to what are commonly termed enclosed switches of the front operated type.

One object is to provide switch contacts and bridging members readily accessible and remov- I able from the front.

Another object is to provide that all the nor-, mally replaceable current carrying parts may be easily accessible and replaceable from the front of the base.

Another object is to provide contacts and fuse terminals on diflerent levels.

Another object is to provide a fused switch unit of compact arrangement wherein the switch contacts as well as the fuses are readily removable and replaceable.

Still another object is to provide a single insulating base with provision for mounting two independently functioning switches thereon.

Fig. 1 is a front view of an enclosed type of switch for manual as well as automatic operation involving my invention, the cover of the box being shown open. Only one switch and fuse unit is shown and the two companion units are merely suggested by dotted outlines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the cover being shown in the closed osition.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with the cover closed.

Fig. 4 is a side view and partial section of a single switch and fuse unit of the duplex type shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the device of Fig. 4 taken on the plane of the line 5I.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the conducting parts at one end of a switch and fuse unit showing the circuit make and break contacts and one fuse terminal. 7

Fig. 1 is a similar view of a modified construction.

Fig. 8 is a side view and partial section of a switch and fuse unit having the conducting parts of Fig. '1 arranged for manual operation only.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the construction of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front view of a duplex type unit arranged for manual operation only.

Fig. 11 is a side view and partial section of the,

construction shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the conducting member for supporting one end of a fuse and the associated circuit terminal as shown in Fig. 11.

Each switch and fuse unit has an insulatin base it of general rectangular paraiielepipedon shape to which are suitably attached the various circuit terminals, switch contacts and fuse terminals and which also supports the movable switch member or members depending upon whether it has a single or duplex switch. At one end is a circuit terminal I supported on a plat- ;form H and at the other end is the corresponding circuit terminal II on the platform is preferably on the same level as ii. A switch contact is connected to terminal iii. The opposite switch contact 2i is mounted on the same level as 20. The movable switch member 22 is resiliently carried by a plunger 23 which is reciprocable through a passage in the base between the contacts 2. and 2|. All of these parts excepting the plunger are removable from the front of the base. The switch member is mounted in a recess or chamber 24 formed between the walls25 and 28 of the base.

The removable mounting of the contacts 22 may be as shown and claimed in Getchell's Patent 1,796,449.

The fuse clip or terminal 21 is connected to the metal strap. 28 which is mounted on the platform 29 at the front of the base on a higher level than the switch contacts and at one side thereof. An arm II of the strap is bent at right angles and provided with a return bend ll which is held beneath the switch contact 2|. The fuse clip 32 is similarly connected to the strap 32 which has an arm 34 connected to a switch contact 35. This contact and its companion contact 36 are mounted on the platform l9 and contact 36 is connected to terminal it. The movable switch member 31 is mounted similarly to switch member 22 but moves within the recess 28 similar to recess 24. A partition 39 separates the two recesses 24 and 38 and the conducting parts which are mounted therein.

When the switch members 22 and 31 are in closed circuit position, the current can flow from l6 to 20, 22, 2|, 3|, 30, 2s, 21, the fuse (not shown), 32, 33, I4, 35, 21, 36 to it.

Such units may be used singly, doubly or in triple as suggested in Fig. l where one unit has the base 15 and two other unit bases I5 and ii are suggested by dotted lines. These bases are all mounted on a plate 40 and a single crank shaft ll behind the base is connected to the respective piungers 23 etc.

To secure a snap action a second crank shaft 42 is provided and a to gle spring device 43 is interposed between them. Shaft 42 has an arm 44 by which it can be actuated. In the form shown, the box 48 has a hi ged cover 48.

Thehandle 41 is pivotally mounted on the cover and is provided on the inside with a lever 48 terminating in a curved arm 48 which has a slot in which an offset ill of the crank arm 44 slides. This construction for manually actuating the upper switch units is more fully shown, described and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 349,907, filed August 2, 1940, now Patent No. 2,256,910, issued Sept. 23, 1941.

The lower switch units are actuated by a crank shaft 8| controlled by suitable electro magnetic mechanism not claimed herein but including local control switch mechanism I52 and I8 and an electro magnetic device 54. Whenthe manual switch is closed the circuit can be opened and closed by means of the remotely controlled mechanism and of course i also protected by the fuses.

When the electro magnetic control is omitted, the same switch and fuse units may be employed but in this case the circuit from 84 to 18 is kept closed by a connector ill as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the connector taking the place of the switch member 81 previously described.

It will be understood that the fuse clips 21 and 82 may be mounted at any desired spacing so as to permit the same construction to be used for various switch ratings.

The fuse clip straps 28 and 88 may themselves be provided with circuit terminals such as 85.-

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modified form of insulating base and a somewhat different arrangement of electrical connections intended for a single switch control only. In this case the base 18 is of the same general shape as in the other figures and all the conducting parts are supported upon and removable from the front; the switch contacts being supported on surfaces nearer the rear than the fuse clips. The switch contacts 1| and 12 are secured to the base by screws 18 and 14 in a recess 15 formed between the walls 18 and 11. The movable switch member 18 is carried by a plunger 18 which is reciprocable through the base, and actuated by a crank 4| at the rear.

The fuse clips 80 and 8| are carried by straps extending through said opening, means for actuating the carrier from behind the base, a switch piece on said carrier, means removably securing the switch piece to the'carrier, saidmeans and said switch piece being accessible entirely from the front of the base, said contacts, carrier and switch piece being disposed rearwardly of the front supporting surface in all positions of the switch, a pair of spaced fuse terminal pieces mounted flat on the front supporting surface, a fuse holder on each fuse terminal piece, a strap connection between at least one of said terminal pieces and one of said contacts, means of connection between the other contact and. one of said switch terminals and means of connection between the other fuse terminal piece and the other switch terminal.

2. A switch unit including a substantially rectangular insulating base having a forwardly protruding wall along one side edge with a front supporting surface and having another forwardly protruding wall along the central portion of the other side edge providing'a space between said 82 and 88 secured to a front platform 84 at a higher level than the switch contacts and at one side of them so that access can be freely had to both the fuse clips and the switch parts. The strap 82 has an arm 85 which extends back from the front of the base to the bottom of the recess I 15 where it is connected to the switch contact 12. The circuit terminal 88 at the upper end of the base has a connecting bar 81 which extends alon one side of the base and is connected to the switch contact 1|. The fuse clipsupport-v end of the base.

When the switch member 18 Bin closed position, current can flow as follows: from 86, 81, 11,

18, 12, 85, 82, 88, the fuse (not shown), 81,,

opposite sides of the opening, a switch carrier" ing strap 83 has a circuit terminal 88 at the lower edge walls, said space having a rear supporting surface, a partition wall between said edge walls providing a chamber on each side thereof, the rear supporting surface in each chamber being formed with an opening extending to the rear of the base, two contacts on the rear supporting surface of each chamber on opposite sides of the opening therein, a switch carrier extending through each opening, means for actuating the carriers from behind the base, a switch piece on each carrier, means removably securing each switch piece to its carrier, a fuse terminal piece on said first named forwardly protruding wall above each chamber and spaced apart, a fuse holder on each fuse terminal piece, a strap connection between one of the contacts in each chamber with its respective fuse terminal piece thereabove and a wire connector connected to each of the other contacts in each chamber, said contacts, carriers and switch pieces being within said chambers rearwardly of the front supporting surface of said first named wall in all position of the switch.

3. A switch unit including a substantially rectangular insulating base having a forwardly protruding wall along one side edge with a front supporting surface and having another forwardly protruding wall along the central portion of the other side edge providing a space between said walls, said space having a rear supporting surface, a partition wall between said edge walls providing a chamber on each side thereof, the rear supporting surface in each chamber being formed with an opening extending to the rear of the base, two contacts on the rear supporting surface of each chamber on opposite sides of the opening therein, a switch carrier extending through the opening in each chamber,-mean's for actuating the carriers from behind the base, a switch piece on each carrier, means removably securing each switch piece to its respective carrier, said means and said switch pieces being accessible entirely from the front of the base, said contacts, carriers and switch pieces being within the chambers rearwardly of the front supporting surface of said first named side wall in all positions of the switch, a fuse terminal piece mounted flat on the front supporting surface of said first named side wall above each chamber, a fuse holder mounted on each fuse terminal piece, a strap connection between one of the contacts in each chamber with its respective fuse terminal piece thereabove and a wire connector connected to each of the other contacts in each chamber.

4. A switch unit including a substantially rectangular in lating base having a forwardly protruding wall along one side edge with a front supporting surface and having another forwardly protruding wall along the central portion of the other side edge providing a space between said walls, said space having a rear supporting surface, a partition wall between said side walls providing a chamber on each side thereof, the rear supporting surface in each chamber being formed with an opening extending to the rear of the base, two contacts on the rear supporting surface of each chamber on opposite sides of the opening therein, a switch carrier extending through the opening in each chamber, means for actuating the carriers from behind the base, a switch piece on each carrier, means removably securing each switch piece to its respective carrier, said means and said switch pieces being accessible entirely from the front of the base, said contacts, carriersv and switch pieces being within the chambers rearwardly of the front supporting surface of said first named side wall in all positions of the switch, afuse terminal piece mounted flat on the front supporting surface of said first named side wall above each chamber, a fuse holder mounted on each fuse terminal piece, a strap connection between one of the contacts in each chamber with its respective fuse terminal piece thereabove, each strap connection extending substantially fiatwise along and against a plurality of surfaces of the base and a wire connector connected to each of the other contacts in each chamber.

5. A switch assembly including an insulating base, a pair of contacts mounted on the base and accessible and removable from the front thereof, a wall on the base closely adjacent one side of the contacts and extending substantially further toward the front than the contacts, a conductor piece mounted on top of said wall, a second conductor piece mounted on top of said wall and spaced from the first piece, a fuse holder mounted on each conductor piece, means electrically connecting one of said pieces to one of said contacts, a movable switch carrying element extending from in back of the base to a position in front of the base and between the contacts, a switch member for bridging the contacts, mounted near the front end of the carrying element and accessible and removable from the front thereof, and means for operating said carrying element and said switch member, including mechanism located in back of said base, said contacts, carrying element and switch member being rearwardly of the level of said wall in all positions of said switch.

6. A switch unit including a substantially rectangular insulating base having a front main top surface and a recess having a rear surface below the main surface, said recess having a hole to the back of the base therein, two contacts mounted on the rear surface of the recess on opposite sides of the hole, a switch carrier extending through the hole, means for actuating the carrier from behind the base, a switch piece on said carrier, means removably securing the switch piece to the carrier, said means and said switch piece being accessible entirely from the front of the recess, said contacts, carrier and switch piece being within said recess below the main top surface of the base in all positions of the switch, a pair of spaced fuse terminal pieces mounted flat on the main top surface of the base, a fuse holder mounted on each fuse terminal piece, a strap connection between at least one of said terminal pieces and one of said contacts and a wire connector fastened to the other contact of the pair of contacts.

7. A switch unit including a substantially rectangular insulating base having a main top surface and a recess having a surface below and rearwardly of the main surface, said recess having a hole to the back of the base therein, two contacts mounted on the surface of the recess on opposite sides of the hole, a switch carrier extending through the hole, means for actuating the carrier from behind the base, a switch piece on said carrier, means removably securing the switch piece to the carrier, said means and said switch piece being accessible entirely from the front of the recess, said contacts, carrier and switch piece being within said recess below the main surface of the base in all positions of the switch, a pair of fuse terminal pieces mounted flat on the main top surface of the base, a fuse holder mounted on each fuse terminal, a strap connection between at least one of said terminal pieces and one of said contacts, said connection extending substantially flatwise along and against a plurality of surfaces of the base and a wire connector fastened to the other of the pair of contacts.

8. An elongated one-piece insulating block having a circuit terminal at each end and having front and rear supporting levels, a switch having stationary contacts and a movable switch member located on the rear level and removable from the front of the base, fuse clips mounted on the front level of the base in a plane at one side of the switch contacts and removable from the front of the base, one of the switch contacts being connected to one circuit terminal, the other contact being connected to one of the-fuse clips, the other fuse clip being connected to the other circuit terminal.

9. A switch assembly including an insulating base, a stationary contact on the base and accessible and removably from the front thereof, a wall on the base closely adjacent one side of the contact and extending substantially further toward the front than the contact, a safety fuse on top of said wall and connected to said contact, a movable switch carrying element extending from in back of thebase to a position in front of the base, a switch member mounted near the front end of the carrying element and accessible and removable from the front thereof and means for operating said carrying element and switch member including mechanism located in back of said base, said contact, carrying element, and

switch member being below the level of said wall in all positions of said switch,

10. A switch unit including an insulating base, having a front supporting surface and another supporting surface formed rearwardly and laterally of the front, said rear supporting surface being formed with an opening extending to the rear of the base, a wiring terminal adjacent each end of the base, a switching assembly including a switch contact on the rear supporting surface, a switch carrier extending through said opening, means for actuating the carrier from behind the base, a switch piece on the carrier for making and breaking a circuit with said contact upon movement of the carrier, and means removably securing the switch piece to the carrier, said means and said switch piece being accessible entirely irom the front of the base, all parts 01' said switching assembly being disposed rearwardly or the front supporting surface in all-operating positions of the switch, a pair of spaced conducting pieces mounted flat on the front supporting surface, a, fuse holder on each conducting piece, an electrical connection between 

